I Have A Question

Sorry I myself am not an amputee but i do have a serious question for those of you who are. If any of you are expereiencing PLS (Phantom Limb Syndrome) can you sometimes get the sensation of feeling texture or heat/cold when the phantom limb is over a surface? Also can your body sometimes feel the limb against it? I ask this cause I am doing so research for my psych class and this topic was discussed by us. Sorry for the intrusion.

Phantom pains – design a way out?<br /><br />My name’s Zoe and I am a design student in London. I am developing a project around people who suffer from phantom pains, with the aim of developing a technique or product to relieve the pain. <br /><br />To do this, I need to hear as many people’s experiences of phantom limbs and phantom pains as possible and I would be fascinated to hear about the techniques you have already developed to ease your pain, what tricks have you worked out to reduce the pain? Have you noticed a trigger to your phantom pains? <br /><br />I want to work with people who experience phantom pains or people who have studied them (e.g. are knowledgeable about these pains or work with people who have them, such as in a clinic for prosthetics, etc.), to try and create an effective solution that perhaps in the long run, may benefit many people. <br /><br />If you’re interested in being involved, then please send me a message where you talk about your experiences (and the experiences of other people you know), or, if you would like to participate beyond this, into helping develop a technique or product, then please include your email address in your message. Let’s get started!

Phantom pains – design a way out?<br /><br />My name’s Zoe and I am a design student in London. I am developing a project around people who suffer from phantom pains, with the aim of developing a technique or product to relieve the pain. <br /><br />To do this, I need to hear as many people’s experiences of phantom limbs and phantom pains as possible and I would be fascinated to hear about the techniques you have already developed to ease your pain, what tricks have you worked out to reduce the pain? Have you noticed a trigger to your phantom pains? <br /><br />I want to work with people who experience phantom pains or people who have studied them (e.g. are knowledgeable about these pains or work with people who have them, such as in a clinic for prosthetics, etc.), to try and create an effective solution that perhaps in the long run, may benefit many people. <br /><br />If you’re interested in being involved, then please send me a message where you talk about your experiences (and the experiences of other people you know), or, if you would like to participate beyond this, into helping develop a technique or product, then please include your email address in your message. Let’s get started!

I am an above knee amputee. I have never felt the hot or cold sensation. the feeling I usually get is that my phantom foot is being squeezed really tight or being crushed almost. Sometimes I will feel an itch. Wierd i know :)

Not a problem, always glad to help w/ things like this. I have PLS, had it bad for a year or so but now it has pretty well leveled off w/ the help of medication and time. Myself personally, I haven't really paid attention to see if I get any sensation while the "limb" is over a hot or cold surface, I do however feel as if my hand is hot or cold sometimes if my stump is experiencing those sensations. I also have never felt my arm w/ my body, but I do sometimes "feel" my hand resting on my leg or something of that nature. I hope this helps, if you have any more question just let me know.

No intrusion at all. As I mentioned in an earlier post I have not lost a limb, but did have my penis severed in Vietnam during the war due to a land mine. Left with just a 1" stump (erect) I still did have the phantom limb syndrome as I felt my complete penis was still there after I lost it. More so just after it was amputated than now however I still do have the syndrome on occasion. I would be happy to discuss it further if you wish to email me. penect@yahoo.com or here as I do visit this forum often.

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